Cbuis here!
I am adding snow removal to my lawn care business this winter. I was wondering if there is any way I can use my 2 wheel drive truck for this. I intend to mostly do residential. Then utilize two snow throwers. Can I hang a plow on my 1989 Ford F250 Lariat XLT? It has a 5.8L V8 Engine and a 5 speed manual transmission. And if so, can you recommend a size plow and manufacturer. Or does anyone have a used plow that would be a good canidate for this truck? Help

willshome

12-05-2012, 09:57 PM

you can plow with two wheel but you need to load it down and good tires. If you get stuck your f@cked
what state are you in?

SECTLANDSCAPING

12-05-2012, 10:07 PM

One of my subs drives a 2wd truck. He had about ton of rocks in the bed over the axle. He did pretty good besides one account that had a hill for a entrance and exit. I had to push him up the hill with a dump truck.

If your going to buy a plow. You might as well pick up a truck with plow. You could find a early 90s f250 with plow for the price of a used plow and install. The best part of this is you could switch the plow to your other truck if anything happen and you have a parts truck for either one. Almost everything will be the same besides the drive train.

Cashin H&P

12-05-2012, 10:18 PM

Can you plow with a 2 wheel drive, yes, should you, No!

Lie select said, it can be done but what happens when you do get stuck??

Buy a dedicated plow truck.

LawnBoy0311

12-06-2012, 06:34 AM

And the people from the North have spoken! Anyone in CT, MA, or NH know a thing or 2 about plowing. Listen to these guys. As a former 18 year resident of MA, I certainly DO NOT miss the snow, but the people who plow up there are pretty damn good at it...well....except the town workers who really don't care about your mailbox!

myblacktruck

12-06-2012, 07:07 AM

And the people from the North have spoken! Anyone in CT, MA, or NH know a thing or 2 about plowing. Listen to these guys. As a former 18 year resident of MA, I certainly DO NOT miss the snow, but the people who plow up there are pretty damn good at it...well....except the town workers who really don't care about your mailbox!

Thats not true the more they destroy the bigger the bounus there getting :rolleyes:

SECTLANDSCAPING

12-06-2012, 10:32 AM

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Thats not true the more they destroy the bigger the bounus there getting :rolleyes:

I seen a video of a DOT guy in NY sideswipe every car on one side of the road. He must have a lot of kids.

Steve

12-06-2012, 03:29 PM

With all this advice, has it made you rethink using your 2 wheel drive truck or do you still want to?

cbuis

12-07-2012, 05:33 PM

Thanks for your input! To answer some of your responses: I live in the Kansas City area. We have been weak on winter last year and so far this year nothing. Since I'm just starting to offer plowing I wanted to keep my expenses down and just put a plow on my lawn care truck that I mentioned. Thanks for the advise all. This winter I guess I will think about buying a plow for my 4X2 truck or look for a used late 80's early 90's vintage plow truck ready to go. I have only one commercial account at this time the rest will be residential. Can I get by with a home plow the attaches to the front of my truck via trailor hitch. I saw a Meyers plow that looked good for 2500.00.

Cashin H&P

12-07-2012, 05:39 PM

Thanks for your input! To answer some of your responses: I live in the Kansas City area. We have been weak on winter last year and so far this year nothing. Since I'm just starting to offer plowing I wanted to keep my expenses down and just put a plow on my lawn care truck that I mentioned. Thanks for the advise all. This winter I guess I will think about buying a plow for my 4X2 truck or look for a used late 80's early 90's vintage plow truck ready to go. I have only one commercial account at this time the rest will be residential. Can I get by with a home plow the attaches to the front of my truck via trailor hitch. I saw a Meyers plow that looked good for 2500.00.

Just buy a dedicated plow truck, dont waste your money putting a plow on a 2wd or buying a home plow.

the home plow is junk, plowing with a 2wd is not a good plan, what happens when you get stuck in 2wd, at least with a 4wd you have the some way of getting un stuck.

I leave my truck in 2 wheel drive for the most part when Im plowing. But when the truck wont push in 2wd i just toss in in 4wd and keep plowing.

I guess what im trying to say is, YOU DONT PLOW WITH 2WD, its a waste of time

willshome

12-07-2012, 05:39 PM

you can get a whole plow truck for under $2,500 or just used plow $1,000
Home owner plow= trash

cbuis

12-07-2012, 08:14 PM

Please tell me where to go to get a plow truck for 2500.00. I'll be there tomorrow. It has to be a rusty bucket?..
Steve asked what I'm doing to promote my business!
Well, several things. First good thing I did was buy his book on tips and tricks.
Had some nice business cards made on vista print and everyone gets one I meet with great enthusiasm. Then I have been networking with the business owners I know from my day job. Coolest thing that happened this year: I was doing a lawn renovation with a new client that found my business card somewhere, go figure. I was doing the back yard for about an hour when I noticed out of the corner of my eye a guy standing at his fence watching me. I waved, finished my pass on the verti-cutter, then went over and introduced myself and asked how I could be of help to him. He smiled and said he had been watching me for an hour and that " I'm the real deal ". He further said that he had True Green at his place last year for a lawn renovation and they didn't do one fourth what he saw me do. And, it resulted in no new grass! He wanted an estimate, I gave it to him, and got the job! What a testimony of what just doing things right can do. I will never forget that as long as I am blessed having this business. So, I learned that someone is always watching and nothing is better advertising then doing the job right!

Cashin H&P

12-07-2012, 10:45 PM

Please tell me where to go to get a plow truck for 2500.00. I'll be there tomorrow. It has to be a rusty bucket?..
Steve asked what I'm doing to promote my business!
Well, several things. First good thing I did was buy his book on tips and tricks.
Had some nice business cards made on vista print and everyone gets one I meet with great enthusiasm. Then I have been networking with the business owners I know from my day job. Coolest thing that happened this year: I was doing a lawn renovation with a new client that found my business card somewhere, go figure. I was doing the back yard for about an hour when I noticed out of the corner of my eye a guy standing at his fence watching me. I waved, finished my pass on the verti-cutter, then went over and introduced myself and asked how I could be of help to him. He smiled and said he had been watching me for an hour and that " I'm the real deal ". He further said that he had True Green at his place last year for a lawn renovation and they didn't do one fourth what he saw me do. And, it resulted in no new grass! He wanted an estimate, I gave it to him, and got the job! What a testimony of what just doing things right can do. I will never forget that as long as I am blessed having this business. So, I learned that someone is always watching and nothing is better advertising then doing the job right!

Craigs list, I baught my first truck for $1800, and drove it almost 40K and then needed to up grade. It was a 1994 f150, you just need to look around

bruces

12-07-2012, 11:54 PM

I just sold a near mint 97 chevy with an 8 foot junky myers 4 spring commercial plow for $2000.00 .I have too much stuff and it was the oldest truck in the yard .They are out there ,you just have to look each and every day and have the cash in hand as they dont last long .

willshome

12-07-2012, 11:56 PM

All the "home" plows I have seen don't have power angle so you have to get out every time
I sold my 1996 bronco for $1200 this summer and it ran great 7'5" fisher
I needed the room & money for my new truck
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77641125@N07/6956496285/" title="Plow Truck Brockton by willslawns, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/6956496285_1e57d12e40.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Plow Truck Brockton"></a>

SECTLANDSCAPING

12-08-2012, 12:57 AM

All the "home" plows I have seen don't have power angle so you have to get out every time
I sold my 1996 bronco for $1200 this summer and it ran great 7'5" fisher
I needed the room & money for my new truck
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77641125@N07/6956496285/" title="Plow Truck Brockton by willslawns, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/6956496285_1e57d12e40.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Plow Truck Brockton"></a>
that bronco looks to be in good condition. I wouldve gave you $1200. I could always use extra plow trucks.

I have a sub that uses a wrangler and a 7' poly plow. No one would hire him with that thing. I did because he has a 33" snow blower and his college kid comes as a package deal.

willshome

12-08-2012, 08:33 AM

I have a sub that uses a wrangler and a 7' poly plow.
LOL the Bronco has a 351, manaul locking hubs, f250 springs and air bags up front......
the bronco was a great plow truck (very easy to get everywhere) just during the summer could only pull a trailer.